LAPLACE – Charles M. Duhon and Jenna J. Gaudet will share the spotlight as King and Queen du Monde XXXI in the River Parishes’ largest Carnival celebration in LaPlace.

The King and Queen and other members of the royal court will be officially presented at the 31st du Monde Ball on Friday, Feb. 12, at the St. John Community Center. DuMonde “Salutes the Duke” is the theme. The parade rolls through LaPlace on Sunday, Feb. 14, beginning at noon.

Charles M. Duhon of LaPlace is retired (2004) from Shell/Motiva as Field Health and Safety Manager. Charles and his wife Cindy have been married for 19 years and have seven daughters: Michelle Carmouche, Trisha Duhon, Rachael Shirer, Dawn White, Jaime Aucoin, Stephanie Miles and Shanna Rauch. The Duhon’s also have 12 grandchildren. In his spare time Charlie enjoys being involved in political and civic activities and cooking.

Duhon has been involved with du Monde, before having served as a Duke in 1994. He has two daughters that served as Maids in 1994 (Jaime) and 1997 (Stephanie).

Jenna Gaudet graduated from St. Charles High School in 2005, attended LSU and will be attending culinary school in Austin, Texas, in the fall of 2010. As a Maid DuMonde in 2007, Jenna was a member of the first court since 2001. In her spare time Jenna enjoys cooking and being with her family.

Pages to the King are Emily Aucoin and Dani Aucoin both of Reserve (granddaughters to the King) . The Queen’s Pages are Madison Carmadelle of Cutoff and Richard “Trip” Klibert III of LaPlace.

Other members of the royal court are:

Sean M. Delaneuville of Garyville and Jennifer Heltz of Garyville, Rickey Brock of LaPlace and Kailee Landry of Reserve, Chip Abadie of Paulina and Katelyn Ory of LaPlace, Daniel Kurica of Metairie and Ellen Flynn of LaPlace, Chuck Beasley and Ali Roussel both of Paulina and Shane Mulkey and Kristina Colletta both of LaPlace.

Delaneuville is owner of Fatty’s Bar and Grill in Garyville and Fatty’s II Restaurant in Reserve. Heltz, the daughter of Chris and Vicky Heltz, is a senior at St. Charles Catholic High School in LaPlace.

Brock is the owner of Brock’s Automotive & Tire Center Inc. in Reserve. He and his wife Robin have one son, Desten. Landry, the daughter of Grant and Nicole Landry is a senior at Riverside Academy in Reserve.

Abadie is vice president of operations with St. John Enterprises LLC. He and his wife Tina have one son, Joshua. Ory, the daughter of R. J. Ory and Janelle Roy is a freshman at Louisiana State University.

Kurica is an ophthalmologist with Aslett Kurica Eye Center in LaPlace. Kurica is married to Andrea. Flynn, the daughter of Harold and Toni Flynn, is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss.

Beasley is a senior career agent with Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance. Beasely has one son, Charles Justin Beasley. Roussel, daughter of Ricky and Patricia Roussel, is a sophomore at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Mulkey is owner of Vinyl Tech and StuccoPro’s in LaPlace. He and his wife Aimee have two children, Alyssa and Ainsley. Colletta, the daughter of Duane and Crystal Colletta, is a sophomore at the University of Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond.

Dale Holley is du Monde’s captain. Holley is senior relationship banker at Iberiabank in LaPlace. Holley

and her husband Kevin have two children, Briley and Kody.

Krewe du Monde was founded

by the LaPlace Jaycees in 1974

and is the largest in the River Parishes.